PARENTS could be forced to walk their children into busy roads as overgrown plants block their routes to school, a councillor fears.
Overgrown greenery blocking footpaths in Berechurch Hall Road and Layer Road, Colchester, is worrying parents of pupils at St Michael’s School, in Camulodunum Way, and King’s Ford School, in Gloucester Avenue.
After being contacted by concerned residents, Berechurch councillor Dave Harris has pressed Essex County Council to take action ahead of the new school year which starts next month.
He told the Gazette: “The footpaths are usually fit for purpose and someone with a buggy, or even a double buggy, would be able to get past fine, but most of the path now is encroached by vegetation.
“There are plants in your face and you have to step into the road to get around which is dangerous.”
It’s an issue which crops up regularly and Mr Harris feels the county council should do more to plan ahead.
“The highways department should know that every summer rain and sun results in vegetation and they should plan for that. It should be a simple matter of maintenance to keep residents safe,” he added.
“School starts back in a few weeks and it depresses you to think the first thing a child has to do on the first day back is navigate around vegetation to stay safe.
“I have no doubt it’ll retreat a bit by the winter but it’ll be back again. For several months of the year we’re stuck in a situation where children have to go to school in dangerous circumstances.”
Mr Harris had already pushed the county council for action over concerns the overgrown hedges in Berechurch Hall Road were blocking road signs.
One of the problematic hedges belongs to King’s Ford School, whose bosses have assured the concerned councillor it will be cut back before the end of this month.
Bosses at Essex County Council, meanwhile, have said: “The vegetation found at these locations is not maintained by the highways authority as it is the responsibility of the adjacent landowners.
"If an issue with overgrown vegetation is highlighted during an inspection, it may be passed on to our enforcement team who can contact the landowners if necessary.
“We know local councillors are very good at liaising with local residents and can hopefully help us to encourage landowners in their areas to maintain any vegetation found on their land.”
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